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Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of Hurri

Yahoo Message Number: 118520
Greetings all,

I come to you a bit stressed out this morning.
I am currently in Miami and in the bullseye of another potential tropical storm which I may have to again run from.

I have a 2000 Allure Millennium Addition 36ft 330 ISC with a Powertech 8KW CD800 diesel generator.

On my trips I run the genny to run the front ac.
On the return trip from my escape from Dorian a week or so ago, I stopped around Port St. Lucie to fuel up and turned the genny off as I always do when fueling.

After completing fueling I went to turn the genny on as always from inside the coach by holding the start switch for a few seconds but nothing.

After I got back to Miami I opened the cover and saw that the air filter cover had come off and the filter canister and broke loose from its mount. Not sure how long this was like this.

I had since gone to the hardware store and purchased some parts to securely re-mount and seal the air filter but she still will not start.

Now, I would like to add a few additional details:
- The stereo also went dead at this point, the same time as the genny and it's fuse is fine.
- I checked a couple of fuses around the start switch on the generator itself which where fine.
- The passenger-side windshield-mounted fan which hasn't worked for years, thankfully started suddenly working.
- At one point during the trip, when starting the genny she did hesitate a little bit and it definitely gave me pause.
- At another point, at a rest stop up near Lake City I left her running but when looking around the coach saw what looked like a pretty big wet spot under the generator area but partly didn't want to believe the genny had a problem and thought perhaps it was already there before I pulled up.
- I have checked all fluid levels and it looks good.
- Genny currently has 808 hours on it with oil and filter last changed at 733.1hrs.

It would almost seem like this problem is electrical somehow but I know so little I don't even know where to begin to trouble-shoot this thing.

I know the manufacturer is located up in Leesburg FL and I was thinking of just taking it up there.

Any and all help tremendously appreciated as always!!

As always thanks to the group for their support!!!

-Luke

Re: Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of H

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118521
Check the voltage on your house batteries

Mark

Re: Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of H

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118522
Did you check the circuit breaker in the rear compartment with fuel filters?

Re: Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of H

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118523
Also there is a breaker hiding on the generator too which I was in a similar situation

Re: Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of H

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118526
Hi Mark,

Thanks a ton for your help!

Just checked and nothing looked "tripped" as the two main breaker switches where resting peacefully in the "on" position.

Any other ideas?

Re: Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of H

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118527
I'm sorry, I got confused as to who it was replied.

Thank you again Mr. JNat_98 sir!

Re: Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of H

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118529
Just checked the voltage on the two house batteries and the voltage was reading between 12.57 - 12.59, however, there is a good deal of corrosion on the negative terminals of both house batteries.

Re: Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of H

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118530
Thank you so much for this tip J Shealy.

Might you have an idea as to the general vicinity of this switch?

Might you know if it may also be called the "starter lockout relay"?

Re: Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of H

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118568
Just wanted to update the group on this thread:

I went back to Mr. JNat_98's advice of checking the 150 amp breaker in the rear of the coach in the fuel filter bay and re-checked it and lo-and-behold...it actually WAS tripped!

I thought I knew what it looked like tripped but it turns out after I reset it is looked no different.
You just push the button and it clicks but looks the same. I incorrectly and foolishly assumed it would be "popped out" or something clearly indicative of a tripped breaker. But it looks just like all the others even tripped.

As soon as I did this my stereo came back and the genny powered right up.

I'm tickled pink lol.

However, I think I still may have a bit of an electrical issue to work out as my new chassis battery continues to sweat profusely.

Thanks very much again to all who chimed in on this one!

More issues to follow but going to savor this one for a bit first

Cheers,
-Luke

Re: Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of H

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118572
Your battery is overcharging while on shore power. The charger in the coach inside the inverter cavity isn't working properly. Try disconnecting it and cleaning the contacts. Possibly not reading the battery voltage efficiently due to oxidized connectors.. Had the same issue.

Paul

Re: Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of H

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118631
Hi Paul,

Thank you so much for this.

I'll have to pull out the manuals and get in there and poke around when time permits. Unfortunately I'm out of work and the $$ is running out so finding employment is priority number one at the moment.

I will definitely report back here as soon as I've been able to do as you've suggested.

Thanks a ton again.

Very best,
-Luke

Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of H

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118524
You didn't say whether it was turning over (auxiliary battery maybe fine) or whether it tried but didn't. My experience is the fuel line. You can test by simply getting a gallon gas can, filling with a little diesel and disconnecting existing fuel line running a separate line to the gas can and see if it works. Replace the line or run another separate one (I did) and should be ok.
Jim Kelso
95 Affinity 5295
10 KW Powertech

Re: Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of H

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118525
Also just remembered that at times I did not wait the required 1 minute to let the genny warm up before placing a load on it like turning on an AC.

I'm now wondering if this also might have contributed to it's untimely demise.
:-(

Re: Help: Powertech 8KW CD800 No Longer Starts And Am in Height of H

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 118528
Thank you for this Jim.

And yes..., my apologies if I failed to mention whether it was turning over or not.

The answer to this is a big "no".

This is what is so strange about this problem.
It's dead as a door nail when I press the "start" button. Not even the slightest click or rumble.

Never had a problem with this genny in the six years I owned it.
Always changed fluids and filters when required.
May not have started it as often as I should have, just as general maintenance and perhaps that's part of the problem.

Also, I just realized I had been turning it on incorrectly for a while.
I would just press and hold the "start" button until it started and then hold it down for like five seconds.

When in actuality, I need to press down and hold the "stop" button for like 5-10 seconds before starting to warm up the engine glow plugs/prime it.
And then press and hold "start" only as long as needed to start the engine.
This too may have contributed to this problem.